This is the page where we will start the project of building our coffin. You will be able to watch our progress. The coffin contest is being sponsored by my Halloween message board in HalloweenForum.com.

We are just getting started with this and spent a few days looking at different designs and found one we like. A materials list has been put together and we will be picking up the supplies today (4/14). We will take pictures as we move along on this and post them here.

The inspiration for this project came from the toe pincher coffin found in the "Mactavish Manor" web site in "Haunters Hangout". Please visit his website if you are looking to build this coffin as he has very good photos of the work. We did not exactly follow the instructions for this coffin Jerry kind of did his own thing on the trim but the basic building of the coffin is the same.

We are going to build it with the identical list of materials he has listed so here they are........

HalloweenForum.com

presents

5 pine boards 1x12x8 $56.253 1x12x8 shelving $27.21wood glue $2.50trim/ moulding - This is your call most home improvement centershave a huge selection of trim and moulding, also a various assortment of detailpieces to spice up your coffin. We spent $100.44 on trim & various pieces to enhance the look of our coffin. He purchased about 16 small pieces in 8' lengths of detailed trim and used 3 12' pieces of 3/4 round and one 16' piece of base board moulding.finishing nails $3.00sand paper 150 grit we had this on hand1/16th inch titanium drill bitswood stain: your choice of color we used a pint $6.00

I will make a note here that we had a heck of time getting started......it was funny. First we hunted & hunted for a dato blade. Then when we finally got that we found out we got the wrong size pine boards so those had to be returned.

Our Lowes claims they are one of the only stores that does not handle decorative trim so we had to drive 45 miles to the other store which also did not carry dato blades although if we had not gone up there to Winston-Salem we would have not stopped at the tool shop who incidently had the dato blade and thats where I bought my wedding dress there at the Goodwill store for my deranged bride!

So prior to this picture 4 of the 6 foot pine boards were run through using a table saw with a dato blade to cut a one inch notch about half width of the board. These buildings you see in the back here house a capentry shop that belongs to the neighbor on one side...he explained and showed us how to use the dato blade. And the building on the far right is where our saws are set up and we share them with the neighbor on that side.

Here is the notch.

Here is the top of the casket.

Here is the bottom of the casket before being cut.

Another Coffin Project

Although this is not a part of the Coffin Contest none the less we are busy building all kinds of coffins here at Collinwood 841! These coffins are being printed off of the web site "Ravens Blight"....www.ravenblights.com. They can be found in the toy shop.

We want to have something special for all the adults for the 2008 season so I found this web site sometime ago but I was not sure at the time what to do with all the cute stuff he has on there.

SO I got an idea about using the coffins and filling them with the gourmet chocolates we make for our company. We will TRY to make these and fill them with our chocolates and hand them out on Halloween to just the adults.

Problem is we need about 100 of them and they are really time consuming to make but the end result is so worth it! So wish us luck in getting enough of them made for Halloween!lol

For more pictures and much more info press on the link below..

Decorative finishes.

Always do a dry fit before applying glue. Take the 2 pieces and place them together using clamps hold in place and use the finishing nails to secure.

As we move along, there will be moreinstructions & photos of this project!

Here is Jerry after 2 days of working on the coffin! He has no time to shave & his hair is standing up from stress cause I keep telling him........Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!

He has been walking around with this saw & hammer in his hand ever since he started this project! As you can see he is wearing his lucky skeleton high roller shirt that he says brings him luck when he gambles! The question is my dear & fellow Haunters....will it bring him luck in getting this project completed by the deadline date. Only the ghouls know for sure!!!

If only the rain would stop we could get back out there!!! Com'on Mother Nature.......give us a break!!!

Scary Jerry

When the contest & judging end, we will move all these pictures along with a detailed set of instructions into the "Projects 2007 & 2008" section under the "Coffins" title.

I just want to mention here that I did not get enough play to play pictures here but we will sit down & he will explain to me exactly what he did in each picture we do have. I want to mention that he has gotten a request to build 2 more of these coffins for a Art Gallery owner who just loved them so on this next round I will be sure to get much more detailed pictures.